Competitive Wanganui Cup heats

Three compelling 520m heats will decide the finalists for the August 11 $26,500 Wanganui Cup final at the Hatrick Raceway on Friday evening which commences the new season Group 1 racing action.

Pictured: Last year’s Wanganui Cup winner Kava Blu.

The first two heat finishers, plus the fastest pair of thirds will make up the drawn final field. Here’s a look at the cup contenders with their TAB Futures market quotes – Win option 978, Top 3 option 979.

Wanganui Cup 520m – heat 1, race 8

1 Opawa Brad ($12 & $3.50): He was Group 1 520m placed here last season, while he also won a Group 2 527m event. He will relish jumping away from this trap and he holds sound looking advancement claims here.

3 Thrilling Flo ($7.50 & $2.50): She is returning to the scene of her May Group 1 520m victory after delivering her gutsy Amazing Chase 527m third on Sunday. She is poised to bring up her 16th career win in this heat.

4 Dyna Boomer ($41 & $11): This Canterbury visitor hasn’t featured in his three 520m races since he crossed the Tasman. He took a look at this track in his last outing where an awkward start saw him being held in midfield traffic. He can’t use that tactic here.

5 Ride Ain’t Over ($14 & $4): He isn’t the quickest into stride, however he’s a strong finishing Canterbury prepared chaser who was a Group 2 520m winning chaser on his home track last season. He ran third in a Group 1 520m heat in his only race on this track.

6 Jimmy’s Rocket ($31 & $8): He was denied clear early racing room which has seen him being impeded when going into the turn in his latest 527m and 457m races. He must break quickly in his track debut assignment here.

7 Spring Allegro ($31 & $8): The key to his qualifying claims here will be how he hops away from this trap. He has the ability to contest the pace as we saw when he produced his bold Cambridge feature 457m second last week. He must use that asset here.

8 Bigtime Paddy ($7.50 & $2.50): He returns here after his Manukau 30.52s Sunday 527m Amazing Chase match race win. He owns a slippery 29.79s best winning 520m time around this circuit which puts him right into contention here.

Reserves

9 Bigtime Bell ($41 & $11): She gamely went under to her kennelmate Bigtime Paddy in her Sunday Amazing Chase 527m matchup. She owns a powerful finish which we saw when flew home late for her June Group 1 520m second.

10 Vikings ($9 & $3): It’s great to see him making his return to the races after having recent issues. He owns heaps of potential as seen when he delivered his Addington Group 2 520m win which was followed by his 457m NZ Derby second. Has won a Group 1 520m heat here.

Wanganui Cup 520m – heat 2, race 9

1 Allegro Gun ($4 & $1.75): He finished his season with a real flourish when winning a pair of 520m and 457m NZRS Advanced finals, which goes with his earlier Group 2 457m Manawatu win. He has drawn to effectively use his sharp early pace here.

2 Letron James ($14 & $4): This bloke is an absolute trap two specialist as seen by his imposing ten wins from 15 races (one placing) from this trap. That stat alone says he must be treated with respect here.

3 Bigtime Jason ($31 & $8): He’s returning here after his luckless last start Cambridge feature 457m outing. His race will be decided by the start that he makes here. He has been known to ping and run which is exactly what he must do here.

4 Cawbourne Kazz ($61 & $15): This girl couldn’t off picked on a tougher assignment to make her first appearance over a longer trip, having been short course sprinting during her entire 33 race career. She’s also making her open class chasing debut here.

5 He’s All Power ($14 & $4): He receives a rough draw for his return to racing after last being sighted back in May. He was the potent winner of last season’s $80,000 Auckland Cup (527m) and that win alone says he commands absolute respect.

6 Cororooke Chook ($61 & $15): He has been charging through the grades in great style which now sees him entering this event as a C4 graded chaser. Obviously this heat is up another couple of levels which leaves him with no choice but to use his known early pace from the traps.

7 Howie Bale ($51 & $13): Canterbury prepared chaser who has contested the early pace in his latest South Island 520m and 457m races. He’s facing a hard task making his track debut from this wide draw against proven track performers.

8 Gold Class ($126 & $31): This girl doesn’t deserve to be rated as the complete outsider for this series purely because she is proven in the open class chasing ranks – we saw that when she adopted pace making tactics to lead throughout over the Manukau 527m trip three races ago.

Reserves

9 Bigtime Bell ($41 & $11): She gamely went under to her kennelmate Bigtime Paddy in her Sunday Amazing Chase 527m matchup. She owns a powerful finish which we saw when flew home late for her June Group 1 520m second.

10 Vikings ($9 & $3): It’s great to see him making his return to the races after having recent issues. He owns heaps of potential as seen when he delivered his Addington Group 2 520m win which was followed by his 457m NZ Derby second. Has won a Group 1 520m heat here.

Wanganui Cup 520m – heat 3, race 10

1 Cawbourne Mezza ($61 & $15): She’s returning to 520m racing here after her recent sprints. She owns sound looking inside trap stats and she has no option but to hop away smartly here if she’s going to further enhance those stats.

2 Opawa Shackley ($6 & $2.20): This 2015/16 NZ Greyhound of the Year finalist makes her return to the venue where she has tasted Group 1 success on before. This classy chaser has drawn to lead her heat rivals throughout here.

3 Lochinvar Brogue ($13 & $4): He adds a fair amount of interest by making his track debut outing here. He is bringing south very solid Manukau 527m form with him which will make him tough to hold out if he can replicate that form at this venue.

4 Runway Bono ($12 & $3.50): Recently imported Aussie chaser who opened his NZ winning account with an easy 30.46s Addington 520m C3/4 win. He travels north for his Hatrick track debut outing after delivering a handy last start open class 520m third.

5 Epic Dream ($14 & $4): She owns early pace which she displayed when delivering her bold fresh-up Addington 520m win three races ago. She must use that asset when hopping away from this lousy draw for her track debut race.

6 Spare Some Time ($14 & $4): He’s a Group 1 520m wining greyhound around this circuit and that factor alone says he must be respected. He won’t mimd drawing here and he has the ability to race up on the pace throughout.

7 Helski Bale ($41 & $11): He was a class 3 rated greyhound when he contested a Group 2 Addington 520m final two races ago. He then came out to lead a C4 Addington 520m field throughout when he clocked 30.45s.

8 Tranquil Rue ($51 & $13): He’s making his return here after mixing his recent Manawatu race distances. He was won over 520m on this track in a tidy 29.96s. He isn’t renowned for his early pace, therefore he’ll be looking for early racing luck from out here.

Reserves

9 Bigtime Bell ($41 & $11): She gamely went under to her kennelmate Bigtime Paddy in her Amazing Chase 527m matchup. She owns a powerful finish which we saw when flew home late for her June Group 1 520m second.

10 Allen Hadrian ($51 & $13): This bloke has had his past issues at this track as seen when he took a tumble during the running of a Group 1 520m final here. He hasn’t really featured since then, although he did contest a recent Addington 520m Group 2 final.